Education minister Charles Clarke took time off from Government business to open a Stanford-le-Hope school's new library.
Mr Clarke cut a ribbon to officially open the library which is part of a £1.5 million investment at Hassenbrook School.
The Margaret Rumsey Library has been named after a past chairman of the governing body who has given many years of service to the school. Mrs Rumsey and her husband were among the guests at the opening ceremony.
Headteacher Dr Geoffrey Casey said: "This is our way of saying thank you to Margaret for the help and support she has given the school and guarantees that her name will always be remembered as a benefactor.
"The library has thousands of books available for students to use in their studies and for leisure. It also has a room containing ten computers with internet access and CD-ROM facilities as further research sources for students undertaking project work."
Other guests at the ceremony included the MP for Basildon and East Thurrock, Angela Smith , and the chairman of Thurrock's learning services committee, Margaret Jones.
Dr Casey added: "Mr Clarke and his party also took the time to visit other departments which have benefited from recent investment including the technology department which has seen significant spending on information and communication technology."
Snip - Mr Clarke, flanked by MP Angela Smith and Margaret Rumsey, cuts the tape
Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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